fakir

American  

[fuh-keer, fey-ker] / fəˈkɪər, ˈfeɪ kər /

Also faqir,

noun

1. a Muslim or Hindu religious ascetic or mendicant monk commonly considered a wonder-worker.

2. a member of any Islamic religious order; dervish.

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fakir British  

/ fəˈkɪə, ˈfeɪkə, fəˈkɪə /

noun

1. a Muslim ascetic who rejects wordly possessions

2. a Hindu ascetic mendicant or holy man

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Etymology

Origin of fakir

First recorded in 1600–10, fakir is from the Arabic word faqīr “poor”

Explanation

A fakir is a Muslim Sufi holy man or woman who lives on only what he or she gets by begging. A fakir is a kind of wandering Middle Eastern or South Asian monk. Most fakirs follow the Islamic faith, or its more mystical practice, Sufism, though there are also fakirs in Hinduism. As many religions do, Islam places importance on the idea of giving up worldly goods — a fakir owns nothing, only eating what he begs for. In Arabic, in fact, faqir means "poor man." Pronounce fakir with an emphasis on the last syllable, which sounds like "keer."

Example Sentences

Gillian Murphy brought her imposing technical attack to the role of the treacherous princess Gamzatti, and Alexei Agoudine pumped delirious gesticulation and wild jumps into overdrive as the lead fakir.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 15, 2018

He thereafter wore a loincloth and shawl, looking not much different from the way Churchill famously described him later as a fakir striding “half-naked” up the steps of the viceroy’s palace.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2016

When a Hindu fakir declared on live television that he could kill anybody with tantric chanting, Sanal Edamaruku simply had to take him up on the challenge.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2014

As both were guests in the studio, the fakir was put to the test immediately.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2014

The old woman sat very quiet for a long time and then she said, "The anger of a Rajah is something to be dreaded, but that of a fakir might be far worse."

From The Magic Bed A Book of East Indian Fairy-Tales by James, Hartwell